VC's strategic funding round-up

In September 2010 the Institutional Planning Department issued the Guidelines for new applications to the Vice-Chancellor's Strategic Fund. The VC's Strategic Fund, worth R100 million over five years, had been set up at the end of 2009 to expand the range and impact of activities that would advance UCT's vision and strategic plan.

To implement a process more in line with the existing university reporting structures, a request was issued to apply for funding through the Deans' and DVCs' offices. This was designed to draw on input from the broader university executive to promote better integration of strategic projects within the faculties.

A positive evaluation of the 2010 VC funded projects by the Review Committee resulted in R13 million of the available R20 million being committed to continuing the funding of these multi-year projects in 2011.

In the 2011 round, the VC's fund attracted 57 new proposals, requesting R50 million in funding for 2011. After careful consideration, 17 projects were selected and awarded funding of R7 million.

In addition to making awards in the faculties and PASS area, the Review Committee made funding available to the VC's focus areas of Climate Change, Promoting Afropolitanism, Transformation and the study of Safety and Crime.